Trent Williams admits he forgot he played for Commanders
As the 49ers prepare to face Washington, the veteran offensive lineman downplayed his past with the team.
San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Trent Williams is nearing the end of his 16-year career and admitted that he has, at times, forgotten about the first nine years of it spent with the Washington Commanders.
"Sometimes I forget that I even played there," Williams told reporters. "I only played nine seasons there. It’s been almost as much time here as I have there."
Williams' NFL career began with Washington after he was selected as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. During his tenure with the team, he earned seven consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2012 to 2018 and helped Washington reach the playoffs in the 2012 and 2015 seasons.
In 2019, Williams was placed on the non-football injury list and missed the entire season. He was later granted permission to seek a trade in 2020 and was sent to the 49ers in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Despite Williams' apparent detachment from his time in Washington, the Commanders organization acknowledged his contributions. In 2022, he was inducted into the team's "90 greatest players and coaches list" as part of their 90th anniversary.
Since joining the 49ers, Williams has experienced a career resurgence. He has been named a first-team All-Pro three consecutive times from 2021 to 2023. The 49ers, who enter their Week 6 game against the Commanders with a 5-0 record, are coming off a 32-29 victory against the Seattle Seahawks.